This week was Family Week on So You Think You Can Dance, where parents were interviewed about their dancing kids. I had a thought: What if your family was so weird, mean, homely, and/or drunk that you thought they would hurt your chances with America? What would you do, get them a makeover? Lie and tell Nigel they died? Hire actors to play your family? I think I'd go with "died"...and have Mia choreograph a dance for you about it. That's a win-win.

What else happened? Cat wore a weird red dress. It was like she had on a flesh-colored slip and then grabbed a piece of red gauzy fabric from Mood and wrapped it around herself. Kenny Ortega was a last minute surprise judge. I think he was there to fill time because we learned early on that Billy Bell would not be dancing this week. He hurt his knee, and even though the doctors said he was okay to dance, Billy didn't feel up to it so he sat this week out. You could tell this pissed Nigel off. Alex, the season's first injured dancer was in the audience, looking chipper and giving the thumbs-up sign. I look forward to seeing him back on the stage next season.



Last girl standing Lauren started things off with a country-fried hip-hop routine with all-star Twitch that was sassy and cool. I love the way Lauren moves. She has that girlish, sexy vibe that Britney Spears has, which Brit-Brit never loses no matter how bald or confused she gets. As Mia said after Lauren rode off into the sunset on Twitch's back, "You kept your sexy girl." Lauren always keeps her sexy girl. On a related note, the other night I was at a urinal in a gay bar watching a Jennifer Lopez video on the monitor in front of me. J Lo was working her butt off, changing clothes a bunch and dancing with canes and what have you, but she doesn't have that sexy girl thing. I like the idea of Jennifer Lopez as a celebrity. I just don't know what I enjoy watching her do.

Jose danced next with all-star Allison who is gorgeous and Jen Anniston-y. They did a contemporary piece that was set on the lip of the stage. It was a brilliant idea: Jose was fully committed to the character and the emotions, but the judges thought it showed how limited he was technically. "You're no Legacy," was their subtext, and I kind of have to agree, but when Jose smiles nothing else really matters.

Then Robert and all-star Allison danced a jazz routine about seduction in which Robert wore a ripped-up shirt straight out of the Satan's Alley show in Stayin' Alive. I dug it. There was lots of talk in the pre-interview about chemistry and seductiveness. After the dance, Kenny Ortega told Robert, "You do have bottom," which I thought was a little on-the-nose.

Over the years, a number of male contestants on this show have seemed gay, but the show is in total denial of this and acts like every time they pair a guy with a pretty girl, it's going to be all the kid can do not to stick it in her during rehearsal. Nigel's the biggest enabler of this. I guess you need the heartland and young girls to make a show a hit, so you couldn't very well have Nigel say to a guy, "Try to pretend that Courtney's really Pasha, and you both just did ecstasy at the Black Party." I would love it if he did, though.

Kent and all-star Kathryn did a cute and athletic jazz routine that showcased Kent's tumbling ability. At one point, he did a front handspring over Kathryn's back that was quite the feat of derring-do. The judges think that Kent's face was a bit too animated, but it's hard not to beam when the audience is screaming out, "We love you, Kent," every ten seconds.

For my money, the dance of the night was Adechike and Comfort's hip-hop routine to "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys. I always thought this song was overrated, but these two made me appreciate it, with their all-out commitment to the dance's abusive relationship story line. It was so intense that Chike (that's his nickname and I'm happy to use it, thank you) couldn't stop crying afterwards. Adam and Mia said it was like watching a movie, which I totally agree with -- a Lifetime movie, maybe, but a movie nonetheless. Adam remarked, "It was so my life," which left me wanting to know more. Has he ever slapped Adechike and stormed out with his suitcase? I hope not. I already envy Adam's career. Don't add Chike Love to the list. Speaking of Chike, his solos are my favorite. They're artful and gorgeous and quirky. I'm all about Chike this week if you haven't already noticed.

The contestants were paired up with each other for their second dance. Lauren and Robert danced a sexy samba that was like a beach party in Rio come to life. Mia told Lauren afterwards, "We expect a lot from your butt." It's true, we do, and she delivered. Robert wore an unconventional tank top. I don't usually like unconventional tank tops, with weird strap shapes and odd necklines, but Robert pulled it off. Lauren is so sexy that no matter how cute the guy is with her, I always watch her. I like her sense of humor, too. She's a little enchantress.

Adechike and Jose were paired up next for a man-on-man Paso Doble that was kind of cool but a little bit goofy with the flared nostrils and the cape waving and so forth. But their bodies looked smokin', and Chike jumped in the air a few times, which always makes for good TV.

The evening ended with Kent dancing a "stepping" routine. He was supposed to be with Billy, but Billy's out so Twitch stepped in. This was the show's first stepping routine, and it was fun to watch although there was some storyline involving books that I didn't quite follow. Mia thought it was "filthy and disgusting and gross," which I think was a compliment. Kent did great, as usual.

During the elimination show, Nigel announced that nobody would be going home and that two dancers would be let go next time. This seemed fair considering that Billy didn't dance. So who goes home? I'm predicting Billy and Jose, but we shall see.